Weathering the Storm

It's been a season filled with the unexpected, but none more surprising than the Tornado Bowl.

As we drove to the stadium, the clouds were looking ominous, and predictions were that the storm would hit downtown during the game.  In front of the storm came the wind.  It was so strong that the 4th Phase flag was not carried out onto the field - I can only imagine what the 40-50 mph wind would have done to the 40 yd x 20 yd flag and the fans holding its edges.

As the Bears prepared to kick off, I glanced at the ribbons on the ends of the goal posts.  I expected to see them sticking straight out.  I didn't expect to see the ribbons all pointing in toward the center of the field - the wind was being swirled by both ends of the stadium into the middle!  Pretty unbelievable conditions.

Prior to the kickoff, warnings were played on the jumbotron and PA, preparing everyone in the event we needed to evacuate to an indoor location.  It was a day when we really appreciated our seats in the club section, under the overhang, and close to shelter.  Midway through the first quarter, the tornado sirens went off in Chicago, and the crowd evacuated the stadium.  Through the windows of the club we could see just how dark and stormy things got, but we were comfortably bored.  The lights stayed on, but the cable feed to watch the other games gave out. :(

When we went back out to the stadium the it was sunny and around 65 degrees.  Thurston was regretting that he'd left his hat in the car, because the sun was so bright.  Halfway through the 2nd quarter, the temperature dropped from 60's to 30's.  We were freezing, and the wind continued for the rest of the game.  It was absolutely a stunning performance by Robbie Gould to kick the winning field goal in the middle of a "tornado".  The Tornado Bowl is a game we'll remember for a long time.

Lambeau Leaping for Joy

As I sit here basking in the glow of the Bears' victory I can look back at our experience last night with something resembling a fair and open mind.    Let us start with the good.  Packers fans in general are not as bad as I expected.   They are certainly passionate about their team.  And while that might show a lack of good sense or judgement, it is not anything I would ever condemn.   They are more "country" than the Bears fans.   Not a bad thing, just reality.   They are relatively friendly.   They gave us some hazing and certainly were not above a bit of light trash talking, but they were generally good fans.   There were some bad apples.   In particular there was a couple of guys who were very drunk and had a bit of a language problem.    A couple of other guys dressed in penguin costumes who took off after the kids we were there with.   Someone who put an offensive sticker on the back of the Coach's jacket.   A drunk woman (certainly not a lady by evidence of her speech) who also started in on the kids we were traveling with.   But if in a couple of lines I can identify all the really bad actors that we ran into, you have to grade the fans overall as being pretty "opposing team fan friendly".

Now on the Lambeau field itself.   I can honestly say it is the worst park I have been in to date.   Everything you may have heard about it is true, and more.   The seats are aluminum benches.   The amount of space per person is very small.  Because there are no seats, there are no dividers between spaces and people tend to appropriate some of your space for themselves.   They rent these little seat back things that clip to the benches, or you can bring in stadium seats and you need one or the other to claim "your space" back from the invaders.   It is the only way to ensure that after you stand up to cheer there will be someplace for you to sit back down on the bench.   The rows of benches are right on top of each other with almost no space between them.  There are two ways for someone to get out from the middle of a row.  Either everyone stands up and leaves the row and goes into the aisle to let them out, or everyone stands up and they jump up on the bench and walk across everyone's seats to get out.   There is no option of standing up and having them pass in front of you because there is not enough room for two people to pass in a row.

Last we have the food.  Now everyone knows that Wisconsin is known for it's brats and it's cheese.  In particular you can say either cheese curds or mac and cheese.   Well the good folks at the stadium apparently like to stick with what they are known for.   You have a food choice of Brats, Jumbo Brats, Cheese Brats, Hot dogs (you have to have choices you know), Mac and Cheese (with Brats), Fries with or without Cheese and fried Cheese Curds.  Oh and Beer - lots and lots of Miller Beer.   That is about it.   Someone told me they found a stand that sold Burgers also, but I saw no evidence of it.     It is not like these are primarily what they have available.   This is all of what they have available.    Now they are good Brats, but really, would a touch of variety really kill them?

Last we have to talk about the location of the stadium.   It is in a residential neighborhood.   Parking, other than those few that have parking lot passes, is on people's lawns ($20-25 a car), or in the local business lots that also sell spaces.   Tailgating is on those same lawns or in the buffalo wild wings parking lot.   The whole thing feels much more like a country fair than a professional football game.  The party spills into the streets and overall it really felt like a cross between Bourbon street in New Orleans and the County fair.

So Recap:

Fans - B+
Stadium D-
Food choice F
Bears Victory - Priceless - A++